Patterning mechanism for circular knitting machines



July 26, 1932.

G. STIBBE 1,868,643 PATTERNING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINESFiled Aug. 9. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 4 1/ 7 5 /5 may 4 a 7 a /9 p 2III! HH I IIIIIIIIIIII m x [r [a July 26, 1932. G. STIBBE 1,868,643

PATTERNING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES ,Filed Aug. 9. 19273 Sheets-Sheet 2 D 4& 45 44 45 a 40 f7 .4. I965.

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July 26, 1932. 11355 1,868,643

PATTERNING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Aug. 9. 1927 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Z 50 l 0 8: w

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Patented July 26, 1932 UTED STATES PATENT OFFICE GODFREY STIBIBE, OFLEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HEMPHILL COMPANY, OF CENTRAL FALLS,RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS rar'rnaume MECHAN'IIS'M nonCIRCULAR KNITTING mncnmns Application filed August 9, 1927, Serial No.211,703, and in Great Britain August 12, 1926.

This invention has reference to knitting machines of the type equippedwith independent needles and elements such as sinkers or likeinstrumentalities movable relatively thereto for acting on yarns fed inplating relation to change the plating effect, and relates moreparticularly to pattern mechanism employed in such machines forselecting said elements to bring about the required pattern m changes.

Heretofore for this purpose this mechanism has included-a pattern wheelor like rotary device equipped with bits or jacks fixed in or on theperimeter and prearranged ac- 15 cording to the pattern desired, conseuently the extent of the pattern 'produced one wheel has been determinedby the circumference of the wheel.

The object of this inventionis to enable the extent of the pattern to beincreased beyond that normally provided for by the pattern wheel, and isachieved by providing a pattern device the operative portion of whichvaries or is variable while the machine is working.

Specific examples of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings to which reference will be made the following furtherdescription.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of an arrangementemploying a pattern wheel with movable jacks and an associatedcontrolling wheel.

Figure 2 is a plan, and

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same.

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional details illustrating modificationsconcerned with the controlling wheel.

Figure 6 is a side elevation and Figure 7 is a plan of an arrangementemploying a jacquard band for acting selectively on the aforesaidelements, and

Figure 8 is a detail of means for tensioning the band.

According to one embodiment of the invention there is provided a patternwheel equipped with jacks, which, for the purpose of selecting theelements, are themselves capable of selection automatically byassociated means.

This selection of the jacks in the pattern wheel is brought aboutautomatically and has the effect of varying the arrangement of the saidjacks while the wheel is in operation thereby increasing the scope ofits selective action on the elements and correspondingly extending thedistribution of the pattern in the fabric being knitted.

I may select the movable jacks by means of a controlling wheel of largerdiameter than the pattern wheel said controlling wheel being constructedto act upon the jacks for the purpose desired, the extent of the patternbeing limited by the circumference of the controlling wheel. Forexample, I may use a tricked controlling wheel having in the ariclsdisplaceable bits adapted to be set by In another arrangement for thepurpose offurther increasing the scope of the mechanism for patterning,I provide the controlling wheel with movable bits for acting selectivelyupon the jacks in the pattern wheel, the

said bits being themselves selected for such action by prearrangedpattern means of suitable form, e. g. one or more wheels or equivalent,or jacquard means.-

In a modified form of the invention the pattern device may consist of awheel or disc having combined with it a jacquard band notched, providedwith bits or the like or otherwise formed for selective action on theaforesaid elements according to the re uired pattern. Obviously theoperative portion of the device is constituted by that part of the bandwhich passes round the wheel or disc and this varies according to theformation of the band. j

The illustrative embodiments of the invention are mainly intended forapplication to the well known Banner circular knitting machine equippedwith yarn engaging elements slidable transversely to the needles for thepurpose in question and as an example of such Banner machine I refer tothe United States patent to Robert H. Lawson, No. 1,605,895, datedNovember 2, 1926. The invention,- however, is not to be regarded aslimited to such application.

Referring first to that arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of thedrawings, the pattern wheel 1 is rotatably mounted adjacent to and inhorizontal alignment with the dial or bed 2 of the machine in which theplating controlling elements 3 operate. This wheel is provided withradially slidable jacks 4 which, by means of butts 4a and 4b.

thereon engaging an arcual cam 5 on a cam cap 6 fixed above the wheelare held in an operative (projected) or inoperative (withdrawn) positionas they pas the elements '3. At one point in the wheel these jacks areall projected and are later selectively acted upon by .bits 7 in arotary controlling wheel 8 such bits being also adapted for projectionand retraction in a selected manner as the wheel rotates as will besubsequently explained.

WVhere a bit 7 is projected it engages a corresponding jack 4, asrepresented in Figures l and 2, and pushes the same inwards so that itsbutt 4a is located behind the cam 5 whereby it is held inoperative untilit has passed the dial 2. Where a bit is retracted the corresponding ackin the pattern wheel is not acted on so that it remains projected withits butts on opposite sides of the cam 5 whereby it is held in theoperative position as aforesaid. In this position itacts on the opposingelement 3 as represented in Figure 1, as it passes the dial 2 and pushesit inwards to bring about reverse plating. The reverse platingpreferably is effected by the action of the special instrumentalities orcasting ofi' mechanism herein referred to as elements 3, substantiall asdisclosed in the patent to Robert H. awson, No..1,605,895.

,dated November 2, 1926 and the reissue thereof No. 16584, dated April5, 1927, or as disclosed in the patent to Robert H. Lawson, No.1,605,896, dated November 2, 1926. A cam 9 is provided on the cap 6 in agap 5a between the ends of the cam 5 whereby, after the jacks havepassed the sinkers all those occupying the inoperative position areprojected in readiness for further selection. The cam 10 acts on thebutts 4b of the jacks. It will be understood that the gap 5a is locatedopposite to the point at which the controlling wheel operates and thatthe jacks move in and out through the. gap. Further the jacks operate inradial or substantially radial tricks 1a in the face of the patternwheel.

It will be observed that the controlling wheel is disposed atrightangles to the pat tern wheel and that the operative extremities ofthe bits 7 are formed at right angles to the body portion. In order toensure effectual contact between the bits and the jacks, the latter havebent outer extremities as shown in Figure 2.

position. The bits are held in the operative (projected) and inoperative(withdrawn) positions by an arcual cam 10 on a fixed cap 11 beingprovided with butts 7a and 7 b to engage the cam. When a bit is in theoperative position the butts thereof are located on opposite sides ofthe cam, While when the bit is inoperative the butt 7 a is locatedbehind the cam. At one point in the wheel all the bits occupy theinoperative position into which they are moved prior to said bits beingselected for action on the jacks 4 by a cam 12 which extends into a gap10a between the ends of the cam 10. In this example the selection of thebits is effected by a rotary selecting disc 13 provided with projections14 prearranged according to re quirements.

This selecting disc is so'disposed adjacent to the controlling wheel onthe inside of the cam 10 opposite the gap 1011. that as it rotates itsprojections 14 engage the inner ends of corresponding bits 7, asrepresented in Figure 3, and push the latter outwards to the operativeposition. Where there are no projections the bits, of course, remaininoperative. Said disc may be interchangeable with others of differentdiameters and having the projections disposed differently thereon. It isalso within'the scope of the invention to employ other constructions ofdiscs with bits. The cam 10 has an inclined end 106 to ensure thedirection of the bits to their operative or inoperative positions asdetermined by the disc. Similarly the cam 5 has a bevelled or taperedend 5?) in order to ensure the direction of the jacks 4 to theiroperative or inoperative positions, as determined by the controllingwheel. A guard cam 15 may be provided at the periphery of the cap 11 toprevent excessive projection of the bits 7 at the gap 10a.

The pattern wheel 1 is mounted upon a spindle 16 rotatable in thedirection of the arrow (Figure 2) in a bearing 17, and driven throughthe medium or gears 18 and 19 from the needle cylinder 20. Thecontrolling wheel rotates on a spindle 21 fixed in a bracket 21aconnected to the bearing 17 and is driven from the spindle 16 in thedirection of the arrow in Figure 3, through bevel gears 22, 23. The gear22 is attached to the gear 19 and the gear 23 is attached to thecontrolling wheel. The disc 13 is driven from and in the same direction(see the dotted arrow in Figure 3) as the controlling wheel throughgears 24, 25 and 26. Said disc has the gear 26 attached thereto androtates on a pin 27 fixed in a slot 28 in the cam cap 11 which is fixedon the spindle 21. The intermediate gear 25 rotates on a pin 29 fixed ina slot 30 in said cam cap, and the gear 24 is attached to the controlWheel. The slots permit of the adjustment of the selecting disc andintermediate gear when discs of different diameters are employed.

Figure 4 illustrates a modified form of controlling wheel in conjunctionwith a jacquard band for selecting the bits therein. In this example thecontrolling wheel 8'is formed with peripheral notches. In each notch 31a bit 32 is pivotally mounted, each bit being carried by a pin 33 whichrests in a circumferential groove 34, all of the bits being held inposition by cap sections 35 applied to opwhich carries and drives ajacquard band 39 formed with projections 40 'or other means for actionon the bits, during the rotation of the controlling wheel and push themoutwards laterally for action on the corresponding jacks 4. The pinwheel 38 directs the jacquard band 39 preferably through 'the engagementof the pins upon the wheel with formations upon the band properly spacedwith respect to said ins.

In a further mo ification shown in Figure 5, acontrolling wheel 8 hastwo concen: tric series of bits 41 and 42 located in the same peripheralnotches in the controlling Wheel. The outer ends of the inner bits areconstructed to overlap and engage the opposing ends of the outer bits,the inner bits being adapted to act selectively on the jacks 4, andcontrolled by the outer bits upon which the jacquard band 39 operatesselectively. For this purpose each outer bit is pivoted centrally in itsnotch or recess 31 by means of a pin 43 located in a circular groove at44 in the face of the wheel, and the corresponding inner bit issimilarly pivoted in the same notch or recess by a pin 45 located inanother groove at 46 concentric with the groove 44. A spring 47 isprovided for each inner bit to normally hold it in its inoperativeposition said springs being located in a cover plate 48 whereby all thebits are held in position. This cover plate is grooved to suit the pivotpins 43 and 45.

The springs act through the bits 42 to press the bits 41 outwards intothe path of the jacquard band.

As in the previous arrangement the jacquard band is formed withprojections 40 or other means for action on the bits 41 and is carriedand driven by a pin wheel 38 or equivalent attached to the controllingwheel. Thus when the controlling wheel is driven the jacquard band bymeans of the projections thereon presses selected bits 41 into the wheeland these bits acton the corresponding inner bits to project them sothat in their turn they act on the jacks in the pattern wheel.

It will be understood that in each of the modifications just described,the controlling wheel is driven and controls the action of the jacks 4in the manner already explained.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, thereis provided a rotatable pin wheel 49 combined with which is a jacquardband 50 provided with projections 51, that portion of the band whichpasses round the wheel constituting the operative portion of the wheelfor selective action of the elements 3. As the wheel or disc rotates theband is driven thereby and said operative portion varies according tothe disposition of the projections on the band. The wheel 49 is mountedadjacent to the dial 2 on a spindle l6 and driven, in the direction ofthe arrow, by gears 18, 19, from the needle cylinder 20.

The surplus portion of the band may extend horizontally round one ormore guide pulleys (not shown) of construction common in the art and adjustably arranged at a point remote from the pin wheel or equivalentaccording to the length of the band. Alternatively, and as illustrated,the band, if of considerable length, can be carried round guide pulleys52 disposed vertically adjacent to the wheel 49 and at right anglesthereto, and

round lower pulleys 53 also disposed vertically and at right angles tothe upper pulleys, the band being suitably twisted, as shown, to allowit to pass on and off the pin wheel and round the various pulleys. Thelower pulleys may be carried by a yoke 54 adjustable up and down onfixed rods 55 by a thumb screw 56 so that the band may be suitablytensioned. If desired, another guide pulley 57 may be disposedhorizontally adjacent to the pin wheel to ensure that the band passes onto this wheel in a flat condition.

It will be observed that in the arrangements shown in Figures 4 and 5,the jacquard bands operate edgewise on the bits in the controllingwheels, the projections being disposed accordingly. Suitable guiding andtensioni'ng means (not shown) are provided for these bands. In thearrangement shown in Figures 6 and 7 the face of the jacquard band ispresented to the sinkers and the projections 51 are conveniently cut andbent up from one edge of the band. In each case the jacquard band isdriven by the pins in the pin wheels registering with holes in thebandL- Any other Y departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim then is 1. Ina knitting machine organization having aseries of independent knitting needles and having means to supply yarnsthereto and having sinkers or like instrumentallties for engagement withthe yarns for control thereof in the production of normal and reverseplating, pattern mechanism for controlling or selecting the sinkers orlike instrumentalities, said pattern mechanism comprising a patternwheel, movable jacks therein for engaging said sinkers or likeinstrumentalities, a controlling travelling member, displaceable jackengaging bits therein, and movable means having pre-arranged formationsfor selecting the bits, thereby automatically to vary the operativearrangement of the jacks while the pattern wheel is working.

2. In a knitting machine organization having a series of independentknitting needles and having means to supply yarns thereto and havingsinkers or like instrumentalities for engagement with the yarns forcontrol thereof in the production of normal and reverse plating, patternmechanism for selecting or controlling the sinkers or likeinstrumentalities comprising a pattern wheel, movable jacks for engagingsaid sinkers or like instrumentalities, means for rendering the jacksoperative for purposes of selection, a controlling wheel, displaceablejack engaging bits carried thereby, means for rendering the bitsinactive for purposes of selection, and pre-arranged pattern means forselecting the bits, thereby automatically to render desired jacksinoperative while the pattern wheel is working.

3. In a knitting machine organization having a series of independentknitting needles and having means to supply yarns thereto and havingsinkers or like instrumentalities for engagement with the yarns forcontrol thereof in the production of normal and reverse plating, patternmechanism for engaging or controlling the sinkers or likeinstrumentalities, jacks radially slidable with respect to said patternmechanism for engaging said sinkers or like instrumentalities, means forprojecting the jacks for purposes of selection, another driven member,jack engaging bits radially slidable, means for retracting said bits forpurposes of selection, Ere-arranged pattern means for selecting the itsso as automatically to render desired jacks inoperative while thepattern wheel is working, and means whereby the jacks and bits are heldoperative or inoperative as determined by the bit selecting means.

4. In a knitting machine organization having a series of independentknitting needles and having means to supply yarns thereto and havingsinkers or like instrumentalities for engaging with the yarns forcontrol thereof in the production of normal and reverse plating, patternmeans for selecting or controlling the sinkers or likeinstrumentalities, movable jacks carried by said pattern mech-

